Handcuff case

ABSTRACT

A case ( 1 ) for handcuffs ( 10 ) is of the type having a hollow body ( 2 ) with a top opening for housing handcuffs ( 10 ) and a flap ( 3 ) for closing the body ( 2 ), the flap ( 3 ) being pressed in closed position, against the so-called front side ( 2 A) of the body ( 2 ). The case is designed so that the flap ( 3 ) is provided, on its inner surface, with a key-ring ( 6 ) housing ( 5 ) with a reel, the housing ( 5 ), when the flap ( 3 ) is closed, projecting inside the body ( 2 ) through an opening ( 4 ), preferably an indentation, provided in the front surface ( 2 A) of the body ( 2 ) so as to enable in particular the reel key-ring ( 6 ) housing ( 5 ) to be positioned in the free space delimited by the handcuff bracelets ( 10 ). The device is useful for handcuff cases.

The present invention relates to a case for handcuffs of the type constituted by a hollow body with a top opening serving for the reception of handcuffs and a flap for closing the body, this flap being applied in the closed position against the so-called forward surface of said body.

Handcuffs are at present stored in a case. Generally, the key to the handcuffs is stored outside the case. It often results that there is a loss of the key to the handcuffs, rendering the assembly unusable.

Such cases can have a large number of shapes, as shown particularly in U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,786. There are moreover key carrying housings with a winder as shown particularly in French patent 2259559 or WO 99/21451.

An object of the present invention is thus to provide a handcuff case whose design permits permanently retaining the key serving to open/close the handcuffs without risk of loss of this latter, this key being directly accessible upon opening the case whilst being masked in the closed condition of the case.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a handcuff case whose design permits associating permanently and in a protective manner the key to the case without increasing the size and in particular the thickness of said case.

To this end, the invention has for its object a case for handcuffs of the type constituted by a hollow body with a top opening serving for receiving handcuffs and a closure flap for the body, this flap being applied in the closed position against the so-called forward surface of said body, characterized in that the flap is provided, on its inner surface, with a key carrying housing with a winder, this housing, in the closed position of said flap, projecting within the body by means of an opening, preferably a slot, provided in the forward surface of the body so as to permit particularly the positioning of the housing for carrying a key with a winder in the free space delimited by the bracelets of the handcuffs.

The positioning of the housing is adapted to prevent the loss of the key on the closure flap and its coaction with the forward surface of the edge of the case permits masking the key in the closed position of the case whilst rendering it easily accessible in the open position of the case.

This positioning also permits not increasing the size of the case by judicious utilization of the internal volume of the handcuffs and facilitating the removal of the handcuffs from the case because of the presence of a slot on the forward surface of said case.

The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following description of examples of embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handcuff case according to the invention in the open position of the closure flap, and

FIG. 2 is a perspective of a case for handcuffs according to the invention in the closed position of the closure flap.

As mentioned above, the case 1 for handcuffs 10 is of the type constituted by a hollow body 2 with an upper opening serving for reception of handcuffs 10. The rear surface of this hollow body 2 is prolonged by a closure flap for the body 2. This flap 3 is connected to the rear surface of the body 2 by a bend zone. The assembly of this case can be made of leather or any other material. The closure flap 3 is applied in the closed position, against the so-called forward surface 2A of said body 2. In a manner characteristic of the invention, this flap 3 is provided, on its internal surface, with a housing 5 for carrying a key 6 with a winder. This housing 5 will not be described in detail because it is well known to those skilled in this art. This housing 5, in the closed position of the flap 3, projects within the body 2 by means of an opening 4 provided in the forward surface 2A of the body 2 so as to permit particularly the positioning of the housing 5 carrying the key 6 with a winder, in the free space delimited by the bracelets of the handcuffs 10. This opening 4, provided in the forward surface of the body, preferably has the shape of a slot. This slot 4 begins at the upper edge of the forward surface of the body 2 of the case 1. It has the advantage of facilitating moreover the removal of the handcuffs 10.

To prevent any loss of the key, the housing 5 carrying the key 6 with a winder is non-removably fixed to the closure flap 3. This housing 5 carrying a key 6 with a winder can be fixed to the flap 3 by means of a connection permitting rotation of the housing on itself through 360°, thereby permitting positioning the housing 5 according to the desires of the user. This housing 5 carrying a key 6 with a winder houses with automatic rolling up, a cord of which one end projects from the housing 5. This projecting end is securable directly or by means of at least one connection member 11 to the key or keys 6 of handcuffs 10. In the illustrated example, the connection member 11 of the automatic rollup line is connected to the key by means of a supplemental line. Thanks to the possibility of rotation of the housing 5 on itself, it is thus possible to position the connection member 11 in any position whatsoever.

So as further to reduce the size of such a case, in particular its height, the region of connection of the flap 3 to the body 1 comprises a cutout portion 8 through which can project at least the lock 10A of the handcuffs 10 and if desired the chain interconnecting the handcuff bracelets to each other. This body 2 also comprises, in each connection zone between wall 2C at the bottom and lateral wall 2B of the body, a recess 9 facilitating the reception of the handcuffs within the interior of the housing. Finally, this body 2 generally comprises, on its rear surface, securement means to the belt of a wearer. These securement means can be constituted by a loop connected to the rear surface of the body 2 or by a double wall of the rear surface serving as a loop. Finally, the flap 3 is held in closed position by means of a press button 7 or any other closure member. Thus, when the case 1 for handcuffs 10, according to the invention, is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 2, the key 6 to the handcuffs is perfectly masked and the assembly has a reduced size because of the possibility of disposing the housing 5 within the free space within the bracelets of the handcuffs. During opening of the case 1, the key 6 becomes directly accessible and can, whilst being held by means of the connection piece 11 to the retractable line of the housing 5 with a winder, serve to open the handcuffs 10 whose removal from the case is facilitated thanks to the presence of the slot 4. Thus, this slot 4 permits the user to insert at least one finger into the space left free within the bracelets of the handcuffs to facilitate the withdrawal of these latter from the case. 

1. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) of the type comprised by a hollow body (2) with an upper opening serving for holding handcuffs (10) and a closure flap (3) for the body (2), this flap (3) being applied in the closed position against the front surface (2A) of said body (2), wherein the flap (3) is provided, on its internal surface, with a housing (5) carrying a key (6) with a winder, this housing (5) in the closed position of said flap (3) projecting within the body (2) by means of an opening (4), preferably a slot, provided in the forward surface (2A) of the body (2) so as to permit particularly the positioning of the housing (5) carrying the key (6) with a winder in the free space delimited by the bracelets of the handcuffs (10).
 2. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) according to claim 1, wherein the slot (4) begins on the upper edge of the forward surface of the body (2) of the case (1).
 3. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) according to claim 1, wherein a connection zone for the flap (3)- to the body (1) comprises an open portion (8) through which projects at least the lock (10A) of the handcuffs (10).
 4. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) according to claim 1, wherein the flap (3) is held in close position by means of a pushbutton (7).
 5. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) according to claim 1, wherein the body (2) comprises, on its rear surface, securement means to the belt of a wearer.
 6. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) according to claim 1, wherein the body (2) comprises, in each connection zone between the bottom wall (2C) and the sidewall (2B) of the body, a recess (9).
 7. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (5) carrying the key (6) with a winder is permanently fixed to the flap (3).
 8. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (5) that carries the key (6) with a winder is fixed to the flap (3) by means of a connection permitting rotation of the housing on itself.
 9. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (5) carrying the key (6) with a winder contains an automatically wound up line of which one end projects from the housing (5) and is directly securable or by means of at least one connection member (11) to the key (6) of the handcuffs (10).
 10. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) according to claim 2, wherein a connection zone for the flap (3) to the body (1) comprises an open portion (8) through which projects at least the lock (10A) of the handcuffs (10).
 11. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) according to claim 2, wherein the flap (3) is held in close position by means of a pushbutton (7).
 12. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) according to claim 3, wherein the flap (3) is held in close position by means of a pushbutton (7).
 13. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) according to claim 2, wherein the body (2) comprises, on its rear surface, securement means to the belt of a wearer.
 14. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) according to claim 3, wherein the body (2) comprises, on its rear surface, securement means to the belt of a wearer.
 15. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) according to claim 4, wherein the body (2) comprises, on its rear surface, securement means to the belt of a wearer.
 16. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) according to claim 2, wherein the body (2) comprises, in each connection zone between the bottom wall (2C) and the sidewall (2B) of the body, a recess (9).
 17. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) according to claim 3, wherein the body (2) comprises, in each connection zone between the bottom wall (2C) and the sidewall (2B) of the body, a recess (9).
 18. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) according to claim 4, wherein the body (2) comprises, in each connection zone between the bottom wall (2C) and the sidewall (2B) of the body, a recess (9).
 19. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) according to claim 5, wherein the body (2) comprises, in each connection zone between the bottom wall (2C) and the sidewall (2B) of the body, a recess (9).
 20. Case (1) for handcuffs (10) according to claim 2, wherein the housing (5) carrying the key (6) with a winder is permanently fixed to the flap (3). 